A petition was filed on Wednesday before the Delhi High Court seeking uninterrupted supply of HIV testing kits at government hospitals for the benefit of the LGBT community and sex workers.
A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice R.S. Endlaw sought responses from the union health ministry, Delhi government's health department and the National Aids Control Organization (NACO) on the petition which also sought an inquiry into the disruption in supply of testing kits. The high court posted the matter for July 22.
LGBT Community Organizes Film Festival in Guwahati
The LGBT community in Guwahati, Assam, is organizing a three-day film festival in the city to raise awareness about the community in the north east.
The public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a transgender, Jai Prakash, sought directions for the central and city governments to provide "CD4 testing kits and viral load testing kits" in all the hospitals in Delhi (for common people in general and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and sex workers in particular).
The petition contended that there has been a shortage of HIV testing kits at government hospitals here for over a year.
It claimed that the only centre for viral load tests at the Maulana Azad Medical College was not functioning currently "due to non-availability of testing kits".
![LGBT Couples Face Additional Psychological and Legal Problems With Assisted Reproduction Compared to Heterosexual Peers]( "LGBT Couples Face Additional Psychological and Legal Problems With Assisted Reproduction Compared to Heterosexual Peers")
Advances in assisted reproduction may offer similar opportunities and problems for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals.
Apart from catering to patients from the capital, the centre was also responsible for conducting tests for patients from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and other states.
As a result, people living with HIV (PLHIV), for whom the first line of treatment was failing, cannot access the next step of the treatment protocol by getting a viral test done to determine whether they require to begin a second line of treatment of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) drugs, said the plea filed through advocate Ambalika Roy.
The plea said there were only nine ART centers - LNJP Hospital, GTB Hospital, DDU Hospital, AIIMS, RML Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital, Kalawati Sharan Hospital, Lala Ram Swaroop TB Hospital, and BR Ambedkar Hospital - catering to HIV/AIDS patients in the capital.
It also claimed that out of five CD4 machines installed at five centers, only two were functioning at the time of filing of the petition.
The plea said the governments have ignored their responsibility of securing the "right to health" of PLHIV and thereby "failed miserably in protecting the fundamental rights" of these vulnerable citizens.
Source: IANS
It claimed that the only centre for viral load tests at the Maulana Azad Medical College was not functioning currently "due to non-availability of testing kits".
LGBT Couples Face Additional Psychological and Legal Problems With Assisted Reproduction Compared to Heterosexual Peers
Advances in assisted reproduction may offer similar opportunities and problems for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals.
Apart from catering to patients from the capital, the centre was also responsible for conducting tests for patients from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and other states.
As a result, people living with HIV (PLHIV), for whom the first line of treatment was failing, cannot access the next step of the treatment protocol by getting a viral test done to determine whether they require to begin a second line of treatment of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) drugs, said the plea filed through advocate Ambalika Roy.
The plea said there were only nine ART centers - LNJP Hospital, GTB Hospital, DDU Hospital, AIIMS, RML Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital, Kalawati Sharan Hospital, Lala Ram Swaroop TB Hospital, and BR Ambedkar Hospital - catering to HIV/AIDS patients in the capital.
It also claimed that out of five CD4 machines installed at five centers, only two were functioning at the time of filing of the petition.
The plea said the governments have ignored their responsibility of securing the "right to health" of PLHIV and thereby "failed miserably in protecting the fundamental rights" of these vulnerable citizens.
Source: IANS
Health Minister clarifies Controversial Comment on LGBT Community in India
Maharashtra Health Minister Deepak Sawant said that he had called for proper counseling only for those afflicted with HIV.
 LGBT People Living in Homophobic Societies Die Early: StudyGays and lesbians living in unfriendly societies had shorter life span and had more chances of dying early due to heart disease or suffering from other health problems. |
Recommended Reading
Latest General Health News
Over 300 people had fallen sick with illness caused by Norovirus on a US cruise ship, say authorities.
Ex-smokers in Wakefield have shared their stories to encourage others to give up cigarettes on No Smoking Day 2023 which falls on 8th March.
Total levels of m6A in the nervous system rise with age and that (some) neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by RNA hypermethylation.
New study provides insights into the impact of early-life adversity on brain development and on control of reward behaviors that underlie emotional disorders
Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia signed a formal memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will expand access to essential diagnostics in the country.
